Ensemble Neutrals and Minimalist Signifiers
Do not design full outfit changes. The actors never leave the stage in Find Me. Examiners want to see how you use a neutral base costume and add simple, easily removable items (like a scarf, a hat, or a jacket) to instantly signify a new character to the audience. This is called a costume signifier.
Because the actors play multiple roles, they must start with a blank canvas. This allows them to blend into the background when forming the physical theatre environments (like the swimming pool or the cage).
The entire cast should wear identical, well-fitted black rehearsal clothing (e.g., black t-shirts and black trousers/leggings). This strips away their individuality, turning them into a cohesive 'machine' that represents the unfeeling society and institutions surrounding Verity.
Actors should be barefoot or wear soft black jazz shoes. This allows them to move silently and quickly across the stage during fast-paced ensemble transitions, ensuring they do not distract from the emotional dialogue.
Since five different actors play Verity throughout the play, the audience needs a clear visual cue to know who is 'active' as Verity at any given moment. This is achieved through a shared prop or garment.
Use a single, faded yellow, 1970s knitted cardigan that is physically passed between the actors. Yellow suggests childlike innocence, but the faded, oversized fit makes the actor look small and swallowed up, visually demonstrating her vulnerability.
Alternatively, the 'Verity' signifier could be a battered ragdoll or a specific 1970s toy. Whichever actor is holding it becomes Verity. When they pass the toy to another ensemble member, they instantly revert to their neutral base or multi-role.
When the ensemble snaps into playing the parents or the medical/legal officials, they must add a single, highly recognizable 1970s item over their base blacks.
For the Doctors, Psychiatrists, and Nurses, use a stark white, stiff lab coat. Putting this on over black clothing creates a harsh, clinical silhouette. The white coat represents medical authority and emotional detachment from the patient.
Edward is obsessed with maintaining logic and middle-class normality. His signifier should be a brown 1970s tweed jacket and perhaps a pipe. This instantly ages the actor and grounds him in the patriarchal, authoritative style of the era.
Jean is desperate to hold her family together. Her signifier could be a floral 1970s tabard (apron) or a string of pearls. This visualizes her domestic role and the traditional expectations crushing her as she tries to manage Verity.
Use these pre-structured sentences in your exam to instantly hit the top marking bands for non-naturalistic costume justification.
| Design Element (What) | Impact Justification (Why) | Key Terminology |
|---|---|---|
| The actor steps out of the ensemble and puts on a stiff, stark white lab coat to multi-role as the Doctor. | This simple costume signifier instantly communicates a shift in status to the audience. The harsh white fabric over neutral blacks visually represents the cold, clinical, and unfeeling authority of the 1970s medical system. | Signifier Multi-roling Clinical Authority Status |